The Joy Of Jesus From The Cross
1. "For The Joy That Was Set Before Him"
Pastor Jack Tripp introduced his sermon on Sunday and told us that he felt led to preach on "The Joy Of Jesus From The Cross". He had his text, Hebrews 12:2, "Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God." So he prayed and asked God to show him what joy Jesus could have from the cross. And the Lord began giving him the answer. As we make our way to Easter, I want to share some of the reasons from Preacher Tripp's message that Jesus had joy on the cross.
2. Jesus Was Joyful Because He Knew Satan Was Defeated
The battle between Satan and man began back in the garden of Eden. Satan tempted Eve and she and Adam disobeyed God. "And the LORD God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life: And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel." (Genesis 3:14-15) As Jesus hung on the cross, He bruised the head of Satan and Satan bruised His heel. Jesus overcame the power of death. "Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;" (Hebrews 2:14) The devil knows his time is short and he is doing all he can to destroy mankind. "Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time." (Revelation 12:12) I really believe that the time is growing near when Jesus shall come again, and receive us unto Himself!
3. Jesus Was Joyful Because He Knew The Scriptures Were Being Fulfilled
Aside from the Christmas story, and the visit from the Wise Men, the earliest we read of Jesus in the Bible is when He was twelve and His family went to Jerusalem to the Feast of the Passover. Mary and Joseph thought He was among their companions and Jesus was left behind. They had to go back to Jerusalem to find Him. "And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions. And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers." (Luke 2:46-47) I believe that these verses tell us of the love Jesus had for the scriptures. The Word of God gave Him joy. And this is our next reason for Christ's joy on the cross. He was joyful because He knew the scriptures were being fulfilled. In Matthew 27:46 we read that Jesus said, "And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" Jesus was quoting scripture, from Psalm 22. David wrote this Psalm hundreds of years before, but notice these scriptures that were fulfilled at the death of Jesus Christ.
"1 My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring?
7 All they that see me laugh me to scorn: they shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying,
8 He trusted on the LORD that he would deliver him: let him deliver him, seeing he delighted in him.
13 They gaped upon me with their mouths, as a ravening and a roaring lion.
14 I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint: my heart is like wax; it is melted in the midst of my bowels.
15 My strength is dried up like a potsherd; and my tongue cleaveth to my jaws; and thou hast brought me into the dust of death.
18 They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture." (Portions of Psalm 22)
Three times in John 19, we read "that the scripture might be fulfilled". It gave Jesus joy to fulfill the scriptures.
"They said therefore among themselves, Let us not rend it, but cast lots for it, whose it shall be: that the scripture might be fulfilled, which saith, They parted my raiment among them, and for my vesture they did cast lots. These things therefore the soldiers did." (John 19:24)
"After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst." (John 19:28)
"For these things were done, that the scripture should be fulfilled, A bone of him shall not be broken." (John 19:36)
4. Jesus Knew My Sin Debt Was Being Paid
There have been a few times that we felt the Lord leading us to give someone a love offering and after we did, we found out that it was just the amount needed to pay something that was owed. It was such a blessing to us that God used something that we gave to help another one of His children. Even when the amount is small, it can give us joy to pay for a meal, or something else, for someone we love. We can only imagine the joy Jesus had knowing that He was paying our sin debt on the cross.
"18 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;
19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:
20 Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,
21 Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God." (I Peter 1:18-21)
Jesus paid the price, a price that I could not pay, with His precious blood. He was the ultimate sacrifice that was given to pay our sin debt. "Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood." (Acts 20:28) "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." (Romans 6:23)
5. Jesus Knew His Suffering Would Soon Be Over
Each time I went into labor with my children I would look up at the clock on the wall and tell myself that I might be holding my new baby in two or three hours. As each hour would pass, I would keep looking two hours ahead. I knew that it would soon be over, and that made it a little more bearable.
As we look at some of the things that brought joy to Jesus as He hung on the cross, we can see that He knew His suffering would soon be over. And then He would never suffer again. "But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man. For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings." (Hebrews 2:9-10) We have to go through different trials and tribulations here on earth which cause us pain and suffering. But, when we ask Jesus to save us, He gives us eternal life, and when we close our eyes in death we will never have to suffer again.
"1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.
2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.
4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away." (Revelation 21:1-4)
6. Jesus Could Rejoice On The Cross Because He Knew Sinners Would Be Saved
As Jesus hung in agony on the cross, He knew He was fulfilling His purpose to save lost sinners. And He could look down through the ages and see men and women, boys and girls, confessing their sins and being saved. Jesus gave His life to save all who would believe on Him, and He did it with love and mercy and He rejoiced because He knew lost sinners would be saved. "And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation." (Hebrews 9:27-28) "For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:6-8)
7. Jesus Knew He Would Soon Be Sitting On The Right Hand Of The Father
It is Easter Sunday and we are celebrating the resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ! He lives! As we look again at our opening scripture for this week of devotionals, we see that Jesus had joy on the cross because He knew He would soon be sitting on the right hand of the Father. "Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God." (Hebrews 12:2) There are several verses that tell us that Jesus sat down by the Father.
"For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:... Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him." (I Peter 3:18 & 22)
"If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God." (Colossians 3:1)
"Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;" (Hebrews 1:3)
Michael often says that the best part of vacation is pulling back into the driveway at home. It is nice to go away, but it is also a joy to go back home. Jesus left heaven to come to earth and give His life for us. We can only imagine how much joy He had to return to His heavenly home and His Father.
8. Jesus Knew His Second Coming Would Be Different From The First
When Jesus came to earth 2,000 years ago, He came as a baby, born in a stable with a manger for His bed. He came as the lowly Lamb of God to take away the sins of the world. But, when He comes again He will come as King of Kings, and Lord of Lords! Are you ready?
"11 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.
12 His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.
13 And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.
14 And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.
15 And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.
16 And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS." (Revelation 19:11-16)
For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God." (Romans 14:11)
"7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:
10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." (Philippians 2:7-11)
